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Bedouin Camp Visit in the Moroccan Sahara

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One of the more solid structures at a Bedouin camp in the Sahara desert in Morocco

A side trip from Merzouga, we visited a Bedouin camp in the Sahara desert in Morocco. Our guide offered the invitation, and we accepted, although we had no idea what to expect. The Bedouin family greeted us with warm smiles, hot tea, and a style of hospitality that made us feel less like tourists and more like long-lost friends.

According to our guide, the Bedouins of Northern Africa and the Middle East are a nomadic society. The Bedouin tribe we visited are seasonal migrants rather than desert nomads. They wander between their summer and winter Bedouin campsites, both in the Sahara desert. That is why some of the structures look more permanent.

Arriving at the Bedouin camp

As we drove towards the Sahara desert camp, we enjoyed the colours of the sand dunes. Then, it was flat. Through the vast nothingness, our first view of the Bedouin camp in the distance was through a hazy Moroccan Sahara landscape.

Our first view of the Bedouin camp in the distance in the Moroccan Sahara.
Bedouin camp in the hazy distance

Bedouin desert camp structures

As we approached, we understood what our guide had told us. Many of the structures seemed well-established. Following tradition, I asked permission before taking photos of the people. Afterward, I tipped a small amount to the family.

A boy stands in the doorway of one of the more solid structures at a Bedouin camp in the Sahara desert in Morocco
A small boy stands in the doorway of a Bedouin house
A mother and child inside their building.
A mother and child at the Bedouin camp
Two women weaving a rug in Morocco
Two Bedouin women weaving a rug
A desert kitchen in the Sahara in Morocco
The kitchen
Bedouin oven in the Sahara desert in Morocco
Josef, the guide that brought us to the camp, shows us a bread oven

Some of the structures seemed less permanent

A nomadic desert tent at a Berber camp in the Moroccan Sahara
We were invited into this desert tent
Nomadic structure in the Sahara desert in Morocco
A less permanent structure at the camp
Young boy moving goats in the Moroccan desert
A young boy moves the goats

Sitting on several beautiful, handmade rugs, we enjoyed mint tea with the family. Fortunately, the nomadic style tent offered shade from the heat of the day. Traditionally, Bedouin tribes use goats and camels for dairy products, meat, and wool. It is a staple of their livelihood.

Bedouin lifestyle

A teddy bear hanging on a tree branch at a Bedouin camp in the Sahara desert in Morocco
I had to smile when I saw this teddy bear
A Berber camp in the distance, at the base of the sand dunes in the Sahara desert in Morocco
Another Bedouin structure in the distance, at the base of the sand dunes. This one belongs to a different family or tribe.

Tour a Bedouin camp

While we were driven in an SUV, the more popular way to visit the Bedouin or Berber camps is on a tour, via camel. These typically include staying in the Sahara desert at night, in a more luxurious tent than we saw. However, it is still a tent in the desert and may have no running water, toilets, or heat. At times it gets surprisingly cool overnight.

Either of these two top-rated tours seem to be good options:

Marrakech to Merzouga 3-day desert safari

If you are starting in Marrakech, you will need more time to get out to the desert, and this three-day safari is a great option. You will travel at first in an air-conditioned minibus, but don’t worry, there will be a camel trek in the desert.

Your first night will be in a four-star hotel in Tinghir, and the second night at a desert camp at Erg Chebbi. It includes breakfasts and dinners, as well as private accommodations and access to toilets and showers at both locations. Both sunset and sunrise will be enjoyed in the desert. This small group tour starts on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays. Reserve your desert safari here.

Or, check out one of these tours:

 

One night camel trekking tour in Merzouga desert camp

This tour includes one night in the deep desert in a nomadic tent. You will arrive and depart via camel (1-hour ride) and enjoy stunning views and photo opportunities until you reach the desert camp. You can choose from the standard tent or a luxury private tent with its own bathroom. After your dinner, you will be entertained by a performance of Berber drumming music. You will get to enjoy both sunset and sunrise in the desert. Reserve your camel trek through the Moroccan desert here.

Bedouin Camp or Berber Camp?

Morocco’s population is predominately Arabs, Berbers, and Europeans. Traditionally, Bedouins are Arabs; although, today the term often describes wanderers whether Arab or not. However, Berbers are the descendants of the pre-Arab inhabitants of North Africa. Therefore, there is some question as to whether we should have referred to our visit as a Bedouin camp or if Berber camp may have been a better name.

Our Moroccan road trip

We spent 32 days in Morocco travelling first by train between Fes and Marrakesh. Then, we rented a car and drove through central Morocco, first to Essaouira, then south to Agadir, and then east to the Sahara. In Merzouga, we stayed at Kasbah Azalay, and the owner was our guide to the Bedouin camp.

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Check out our travel resources page for more companies that we use when you travel.

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Inside a Bedouin camp in the Sahara desert in Morocco
Bedouin women weaving a rug in Merzouga Morocco

Have you visited a Bedouin camp?

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Comments

  3. I’m very happy to see this amazing pictures of the berber nomads in the desert.

    Just want to let you know that the Bedouin means Arabic Nomads, and the nomads of the north of Africa all of them are berbers, so it could be better if it was ( Visiting the Berber camp … )

    Thanks for visitng Morocco and for your support with this amazing blog.

    Reply

  4. Just getting caught up on some of my blog reading and wanted you to know how much I enjoyed your Bedouin experiences. We also saw and visited such camps in Jordan. It is a fascinating lifestyle and one with such history and tradition.

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    • Jordan is the top of my bucket list, yet for some reason, we just haven’t’ gotten there. We have been close, in other middle eastern countries.

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  5. I had a similar experience in Egypt. We went into the desert on camels (not my favorite form of transportation). We camped with the bedouin at an oasis. They had everything set up and did all the cooking. It was magical sleeping in the desert under the stars. I must look for my Egypt photos. That was back in 2004 so could be an adventure just to find them 🙂 Love your photos.

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  7. This is crazy how they live like that. That teddy bear didn’t make me smile at all, I got the creeps haha! Very nice photos though, really pass on the feel and atmosphere.

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  8. Wow, amazing photos! I would love to visit a Bedouin camp, they’re one of the most fascinating cultures and this to me is real travel – seeking out an authentic experience which is so different to anything else you can experience elsewhere.

    Looking forward to seeing more of your archived photos as you go through that 40,000!!

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  9. Oh my gosh…SO want to do this! Morocco, in general, has long been on our Bucket List. Between the Sahara and the Atlas Mountains, and the beautiful souks and cities…definitely need to go. As always, awesome photos!

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  10. I’ve heard about the amazing hospitality in these places. Staying in a Bedouin camp must have really been a unique (and hot?) experience.

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  11. The Bedouin camp looks so lonely and vulnerable in the dessert… This was a fascinating read. I have never seen anything like this in real. I wonder how they would select a spot to build their camp on.

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    • It does have that look from the distance, but with all the hills and dunes I don’t think it would be easy to find if you didn’t know where to go, making it safer. Unless you are referring to vulnerable from the elements.

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  13. I am totally fascinated by this look at a Bedouin camp. It must have been incredible to experience it in person. I am so glad you came across these photos so that you could share them with us. Did you get to try any of the bread baked in that oven?

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    • We didn’t try any of this bread, as they don’t bake it in the heat of the day. However, we did learn how and make bread with a Berber family on a different day in a similar style oven. It was delicious.

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  15. Some really amazing photos. I imagine it would have been a really rare experience to visit one of these camps.

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  17. Those are such amazing photos!! I haven’t been to this part of the world yet though – but I would absolutely love to! After all, this is one interesting place that I’d love to see. Thanks for introducing this place to us!

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  18. I didn’t get a chance to visit a Bedouin camp, but did visit a Berber camp up near Todra Gorge which sounds like a similar experience to yours. It was great to see how they lived and the kids in particular were pretty fun to interact with, even if one of the kids didn’t particularly like us being there. The Sahara is such a magical place and you’ve captured it wonderfuly.

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    • Thanks David. We also stayed with a Berber family in a different part of Morocco. They were not nomads. We cooked along side them and they taught us how to make the bread and their methods for doing everything in the kitchen.

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  19. It’s so great when we start search old photos and remember some of the travels that we did on the past and how beautiful they were. I’ve never been to the Sahara desert but it’s definitely on my bucket list. To be able to visit a Bedouin village it’s in fact a privilege.

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    • Honestly, I loved everything about our time in the Sahara. The desert is just so fascinating, and so are it’s people.

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  20. It’s great to take a sneak peak at a nomadic Bedouin camp. The structures look so flimsy – you have to wonder how they manage in the windy months. But as they’ve lived this way as a society for years, I’m sure they have got it covered!

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  21. What a fabulous experience. This is totally something I would love to do. Was fascinated by the size of the kitchen and the mere fact that they have “normal” operational facilities like this out in the desert, especially given their nomadic existence. Fabulous photos and yes, I would definitely do something like this and love it.

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  22. When you consider the enormous wealth of some of the sheikhs in the Middle East, it’s mind boggling to think that they were once Bedouins living in the desert. I think it would be an eye-opening experience to stay in Bedouin camp for a period of time. I’m glad you got the chance to visit one Rhonda.

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  23. I haven’t visited a Bedouin Camp, but it sounds like you got a rare opportunity to see a different part of life. I like how your photos looked all aspects from the landscape to the people. Always interesting to see the world in a different way.

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  24. What a great yet humbling experience, Rhonda! I envy you for that. Who knows if I’ll ever get to Sahara… it seems like a very faraway dream for now. It’s interesting to observe how similar the Bedouins are to the Gypsies in Europe. The same kind of ‘migrating’ lifestyle.

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  25. I can only imagine how incredible this whole experience was! I hope I have a chance to do this some day. 😀

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  26. Thanks for writing to me about the questions I asked you about. You are quite a person to do that. Thanks.

    Cruisin Paul

    Reply

  27. What an eye opening experience! We visited Morocco, but only for a day. I would love to go back though and explore it more. Did you go with a guide? How long did you stay at Bedouin Camp? I love it when you go through photos from previous trips and get to relive them again!

    Reply

    • We went to Morocco planning to stay for 7-10 days but ended up staying for 32. I love the country and the people. We generally travelled on our own, via train en route from Fes to Marrakesh, and we rented a car for the rest. The owner of the riad we stayed at in Merzouga took us deeper into the Sahara and was the one who got us invited to the Bedouin Camp.

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  28. What a fabulous experience. From a photographic perspective alone it would be an absolute dream but to interact with the community and join them for tea would make it even more memorable.

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  29. Hi Rhonda – what a fascinating experience … wonderful you were invited to visit and learn more. We had the film “Theeb” in our Film Society series of films this year – a film that would tie in with your experiences here … I hope you can take a look at it. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theeb or perhaps one of your commenters would enjoy it … the desert is extraordinary … such a great treat you had … cheers Hilary

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  30. Your photos are beautiful. I visited a Bedouin camp in Jordan and was absolutely fascinated. They were so kind and welcoming.

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  33. The photos are really interesting and I can imagine how warmly they welcome their guests.It is a different cultural experience.Anyway,I cant imagine how they live with such facilities and style.

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  34. I would definitely do this – being able to experience how people live their lives is such a privilege isn’t it?

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  35. Very interesting Rhonda! The color of the sand is incredible. I once went to an area in Southern Egypt and was invited to a house. This family’s hospitality was beyond anything I have experienced before. I imagine your experience in Morocco was similar. #TPThursday

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  36. I’m guessing they are far happier than most people. They live life on their terms and work together to that end. Excellent.

    Have a fabulous day. ☺

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  38. In answer to your question, I wouldn’t visit a Bedouin camp. We have a lot of them in the Sinai, and they’re well-known co-conspirators with Palestinian smugglers and any terrorist organization that’s against Egypt’s military. Many soldiers and policemen have died in ambushes in the Sinai. Mostly , the Bedouins don’t do it, but harbor the ones who do.

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  40. We’ve been to Morocco but were not given the chance to visit a Bedouin camp. There were two cars in our group. One had a Berber driver and ours had an Arab driver. The Berber took his passengers to have tea in a Bedouin camp, but our driver did not. I didn’t find out till later that the other group got to do that and I wasn’t impressed. Our driver also didn’t take us to a Berber market, even when I asked him about it. We were there in 2012 also! I hope you are going to do some more Morocco posts now that you have discovered your images.

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    • What a bizarre experience. Seems really unfair that you both didn’t get to visit the same places. Me mostly traveled on our own in Morocco, either by car or train. This visit was a rare day when we had a guide, and he was the proprietor of the Riad we were staying at.

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  42. What an unbelievable cultural experience! I love the photos that give us a virtual look at the Bedouin Camp. Their lifestyle has always captivated me so this would be so interesting to see.

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  44. Unbelievable Rhonda. Please explain to me how you felt as you entered their home and what they gave you to eat or drink. Was it hot inside their home or cool. As you can see, I have many questions but that should be enough for now my friend. Once again, unbelievable. See ya.

    Cruisin Paul

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    • Thanks Paul. It was very humbling to visit there. The ability to live happily with so little is quite impressive. We were brought into the tent where it felt cool in contrast to the stark, hot desert sun. We were given tea and I believe dates, but it was a few years ago and my memory of what we ate may be overshadowed by the fact that most Moroccans who invited us in offered mint tea and dates.

      Reply

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